One of the main reasons is that the guy is SUCH a gifted writer then turned into nothing more than a stalking producer of one-liners.

Because of the second fact and the sheer amount of reasearch he put in I still expect the book to be outstanding. EOD: Guy is just a freaking fantastic writer and even the Twitter stuff was funny for awhile, guy just didn't know when to quit the schtick.

One of the main reasons is that the guy is SUCH a gifted writer then turned into nothing more than a stalking producer of one-liners.

Because of the second fact and the sheer amount of reasearch he put in I still expect the book to be outstanding. EOD: Guy is just a freaking fantastic writer and even the Twitter stuff was funny for awhile, guy just didn't know when to quit the schtick.

Spot on.

And it wasn't just a Twitter act. Guy was a somewhat regular guest on LeBatard throughout the year, and ILO was making a fool of himself as he continued his, as you accurately describe, "Schtik" all season long. A great writer, along with great research is a winner - I just think he may have hurt himself with people who don't already recognize these facts. The ridiculous way he acted could easily cause him to simply be dismissed by a segment of people who otherwise might be interested in the book. Basically, if you ween't a hard core Lebron hater - almost to an irrational degree, not sure you're on the bandwagon.

One of the main reasons is that the guy is SUCH a gifted writer then turned into nothing more than a stalking producer of one-liners.

Because of the second fact and the sheer amount of reasearch he put in I still expect the book to be outstanding. EOD: Guy is just a freaking fantastic writer and even the Twitter stuff was funny for awhile, guy just didn't know when to quit the schtick.

Spot on.

And it wasn't just a Twitter act. Guy was a somewhat regular guest on LeBatard throughout the year, and ILO was making a fool of himself as he continued his, as you accurately describe, "Schtik" all season long. A great writer, along with great research is a winner - I just think he may have hurt himself with people who don't already recognize these facts. The ridiculous way he acted could easily cause him to simply be dismissed by a segment of people who otherwise might be interested in the book. Basically, if you ween't a hard core Lebron hater - almost to an irrational degree, not sure you're on the bandwagon.

Agree with all of this. Which may be a reason he's disappeared from site for the last 6 months. LeBatard and Twitter aren't enough to stop him from blowing up on this though. LeBatard doesn't reach enough people and there are many that dislike him. Twitter is bigger now than it was 6 months ago when Raab pretty much dropped off the grid.

Book success might again make him difficult to listen to though.

I sent him a DM on Twitter asking for a book to review now. He's sending it and we'll see what's up when I get it.

You guys are going to love this book. It's painful in many ways but if you've ever truly wanted a picture of being a Cleveland sports fans and if you ever had trouble putting your thoughts and emotions on LBJ and The Decision into a coherent form, well, Raab did it for you.

I've read the Cleveland sports books that are out there. This is the definitive book on TCE and it's brutally honest, vulgar and graphic in its description of both LBJ and the author himself. In fact, it's as much about Raab, his personal demons and his upbringing and Cleveland roots as it is about LBJ.

And it's effing funny in parts. Laugh out loud funny in parts. I'll write up a review that won't do it justice but just a taste for those interested:

"Maybe the ones burning my jersey were never LeBron fans anyway."

Exactamente, you megalomanical shitheel. Those were- they are--Cleveland fans. They burned their jerseys right after your hour-longESPN smarm-fest, when the whole world saw you for the stunted, soul-dead bumpkin you are. Those Cleveland fans knew for the first time what utter fools they had been to believe that LeBron James ever gave a damn about anything but LeBron James.

And because they were born and grew up and will die Cleveland fans, those fans also instantly grasped your legacy as a Cavalier: You will forever be the player who choked and quit against the Celtics in the 2009-2010 playoffs. You surrendered. You gave up. You and your team- while the clock still ran, with the coach urging you on- quit trying, laid down and died.

For that disgrace alone, those fans were right to burn the stinking jerseys they themselves had paid for. Add the disdain and the disrespect you showed for Cleveland fans as Jim gray and Michael Wilbon fellated you on national TV- not a single question about your playoff tank job or the phantom elbow injury that floated in the same ether as the rumors of your mother's sexual dalliance with one of your teammates-hell, those fans should have torched your jerseys with you and your sycophant posse wearing them.

FWiW- Raab refutes the Gloria/Delonte thing. Gives it zero credence. But when you read about DWest..... wow. What a fucking basket case. Painful.

LeBron was a huge star. He was as big as I was in 2000 in L.A. when I was dominating the league. … Our coach, Mike Brown, was a nice guy, but he had to live on edge because nobody was supposed to be confrontational with LeBron. Nobody wanted him to leave Cleveland, so he was allowed to do whatever he wanted to do.

I remember one day in a film session LeBron didn’t get back on defense after a missed shot. Mike Brown didn’t say anything about it. He went to the next clip and it was Mo Williams not getting back and Mike was saying, “Yo, Mo, we can’t have that. You’ve got to hustle a little more.” So Delonte West is sitting there and he’s seen enough and he stands up and says, “Hold up, now. You can’t be pussyfooting around like that. Everyone has to be accountable for what they do, not just some us.” Mike Brown said, “I know, Delonte. I know.” Mike knew Delonte was right. …

I’m not sure if Kobe is going to listen to Mike Brown. LeBron never really did. Here’s what we do know: Kobe will definitely be in charge.

Swerb wrote:Go start a blog if you want to tell the world your incomprehendible ramblings.

Cerebral_DownTime wrote:I have a big arm and can throw the ball pretty damn far...... maybe even over those moutains. The Browns should sign me, i'll let you all in locker room to drink beer. Then we can all go out the parking lot to watch me do motorcycle stunts.

Good link on Shaq's book from SSS. Lebron is always going to be Lebron but his attitude and approach will probably never be as bad again as it was in Cleveland and during the summer decision of Souf Beach.

You have to think Riley and Wade have more influence over him than anyone did in Cleveland. And even the most hard-headed prima donna will probably start listening after all of the criticism and recent post season failures he has endured.

Peek, not sure whether I understand your prior post. Are you saying that Raab writes in his book that Mav Carter proactively created those false rumors and leaked them to the press so that Lebron would have a pre-established built-in excuse for his impending failures?

Is that what he writes? If so, does he mention anything about whether Lebron was aware of this?

YahooFanChicago wrote:Oh yeh, if it's true it also goes against the Gloria/Delonte sightings by the guy at the car wash (that guy was highly believable by the way)

Personally, if it's between Scott Raab and his hundreds of hours over years of digging, interviews and research - or "the guy at the carwash" (no matter how credible he appeared)....I'm gonna go with Raab.

By the way, it's seems an awful lot more logical that there were more instances like the above mentioned film room one that would've caused a rift betwen D. West and Lebron. A no bullshit guy and a guy that was never told no.

YahooFanChicago wrote:Peek, not sure whether I understand your prior post. Are you saying that Raab writes in his book that Mav Carter proactively created those false rumors and leaked them to the press so that Lebron would have a pre-established built-in excuse for his impending failures?

Is that what he writes? If so, does he mention anything about whether Lebron was aware of this?

If that is true it is way more wacked than even I previously thought.

That's the intimation, yes. And yes, LBJ would have been a party to at least the elbow thing. Notice that went away and was never again a story after the season?

To be clear, Raab never got any legit sources (of his) confirming DWest/Gloria. And you know he would have looked under any rug to find one. He also isn't himself postulating the three rumors were Mav Carter's but rather says it's the feeling of many who have covered LBJ and been around his people who believe that may be the case.

Raab dismissed the DWest/Gloria rumor and didn't opine much one way or the other on the Mav Carter floater thing. He just noted there are those who believe it.

Check the timing. Thought of many is all of it floated by Mav Carter to provide a distraction/excuse for the built-in ability of his boy to live up to the moment in the playoffs.

That shit started in high school too.

Makes one wonder what Riley and Wade thought they were getting into.

Raab has a lot of respect for DWade. He interviewed him right after the decision for a GQ spread and couldn't dislike him. My opinion is that Riley and DWade really had no idea what a head case they were getting in LBJ nor did they realize just what a coach-killing, lack of self-responsibility person LBJ was/is.

No doubt from on that side of things, ESPECIALLY when he was with the kids. The Bipolar thing is crazy and he certainly didn't have a grasp on it until recently (and even then, Bipolar is always touch and go).